HUNDREDS of townspeople gathered by the River Wharfe in Tadcaster on Friday as a temporary footbridge was opened, re-uniting the two sides of the town.

York Press:

"It's fantastic," said one resident. "East meets west."

The bridge provides the first convenient crossing over the river since the road bridge partially collapsed in the post-Christmas floods.

Pedestrians crossed easily between the eastern and western segments of the town for the first time since the road bridge partially collapsed in the wake of severe flooding just after Christmas.

First across the bridge were Chrissie Wilson, who lives on the eastern side, and her mother Babs Wilson, who lives in the west, and who have struggled to meet up for the past six weeks. "It's brilliant," said Chrissie.

Another resident from eastern Tadcaster, Christine Townsend, fought back tears of happiness after crossing the bridge, saying: "It's wonderful. It's absolutely fabulous."

The footbridge is being named Sonny's bridge after a 23-year-old Tadcaster woman with cystic fibrosis, Sonny-Brogan Lang, who died earlier this week.

She passed away on the day the bridge was pushed into place near Tadcaster Albion Football Club's ground, where she worked behind the bar.

Club chairman Matt Gore, who suggested it should be named after her, said plaques would be installed on both sides of the bridge within a fortnight.

He told the crowds: "We are delighted that we can recognise the unique life of our dear friend Sonny, who lost her fight for life the day the bridge landed on the west by naming this bridge Sonny's bridge.

"We urge the community of Tadcaster to join with us in referring to this bridge as Sonny's bridge in recognition of, and in honour of, Sonny."

Sonny's proud parents Anna and Marc, who attended the bridge's opening, said they were delighted and honoured by the naming.

Speakers addressing the crowds praised contractors from Balfour Beatty for working round the clock to get the bridge built so quickly, and also thanked officers and councillors from North Yorkshire County Council, Selby District Council and Tadcaster Council, along with the emergency services and a range of other organisations and individuals, for rising to the challenge so well after the town was flooded.

Residents were also urged to support local traders as they sought to get back on their feet after their premises were inundated.